Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

East Lansing, Michigan Weather

Cicadas claim the afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

East Lansing weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

East Lansing, MI
Saturday, July 4 at 5:34 AM
69
°
Overcast
Feels like
72°
Humidity
93%
Wind
8 mph
Sunrise
2:05 AM
Sunset
5:19 PM
East Lansing, MI
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastEast Lansing, MI: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 69 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit with a 66% chance of precipitation at 5 AM.
L 69°H 86°
East Lansing, MI
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Light Rain
    77%
    0.10″
    86°69°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Light Drizzle
    41%
    0.02″
    81°69°-5°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    —
    —
    76°60°-5°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    82°58°+6°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    —
    —
    82°59°0°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Drizzle
    29%
    —
    75°64°-7°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    23%
    —
    81°63°+6°
East Lansing, MI
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°64°77°90°6a12p6p12anow 69°high 86°low 69°PRECIP %
East Lansing, MI
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
S
191° · backing 30°
Direction
S
191°
Sustained
8
mph
Gust
19
mph
Peak 24h
24
avg 8
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 8 · pk 24 @ 4:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 194SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 30° from the s.
East Lansing, MI
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
985.7
-0.3 mb in 3h · steady · 29.11 inHg
Now
985.7
mb
3h
-0.3
mb
12h
-0.6
mb
24h
-1.0
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 984–988
9809859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW987.6984.0985.3
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
East Lansing, MI
Air quality
42
AQI
Good
↓-17 in 6h

AQI 42 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 17 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply. PM scrubbed by 2 hours of recent rain — PM2.5 down to 9.7 µg/m³, PM10 to 10.3 µg/m³.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
9.7μg/m³
PM 10Good
10μg/m³
NO₂Good
10μg/m³
OzoneModerate
71μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 34 now. With UV 3.3 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 11 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 34
UV peak
3.3 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
partly cloudy
Projected peak
AQI 11

PM × Wind × Precip

PM scrubbed by 2 hours of recent rain — PM2.5 down to 9.7 µg/m³, PM10 to 10.3 µg/m³.

PM2.5/PM10
0.94
Wind
light
Recent rain
2h in last 6h
Pattern
washed out

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
East Lansing, MI
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
26.3mi
UNLIMITED
78 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
09:34 UTC · East Lansing, MI · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
09:34 UTC · East Lansing, MI · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
East Lansing, MI
Satellite · infrared · animated
East Lansing, MI
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
East Lansing, MI
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:31 AM
Sunrise
2:05 AM
Daylight
15h 14m
Sunset
5:19 PM
Civil dusk
9:55 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
East Lansing, MI
The moon
Waning Gibbous
82% illuminated
Moonrise
11:37 PM
Moonset
10:39 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
East Lansing, MI
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

East Lansing at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 69°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: May 2 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 48823, 48824, 48825

15-Day Forecast — East Lansing

  1. Sat84°67°77%
  2. Sun81°69°41%
  3. Mon76°60°6%
  4. Tue82°58°3%
  5. Wed82°59°8%
  6. Thu75°64°29%
  7. Fri81°63°23%
  8. Sat81°61°21%
  9. Sun76°62°14%
  10. Mon83°60°16%
  11. Tue71°62°9%
  12. Wed79°58°16%
  13. Thu82°58°48%
  14. Fri82°64°34%
  15. Sat75°59°17%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — East Lansing

SPC includes East Lansing in the general thunderstorm area today — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3NONENo severe risk

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

Annual cicada buzz begins, peaking in the heat of the day.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
April——
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radisheslettuce, peas, radishes
Junelettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
October—winter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

The year in East Lansing tops out in July (~72°F) and dips lowest in January (~24°F), with June wettest at 3.8 inches and February driest at 1.7 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January24°2.1″5
February26°1.7″5
March35°2.1″6
April47°3.3″8
May58°3.7″7
June68°3.8″6
July72°2.9″6
August70°3.5″6
September63°2.8″5
October51°3.2″7
November40°2.5″5
December30°1.9″5

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, East Lansing sees 24°F Januarys and 72°F Julys, a 48°F range, plus around 33.3 inches of precipitation across 71 days.

East Lansing's rain peaks in summer: June brings 3.8 inches over 6.2 thunderstorm-fed days, while February sees just 1.7 inches across 4.6 days under cooler, drier air. It is a warm-season-wet pattern East Lansing shares with places like Haslett, MI, Lansing, MI and Okemos, MI.

By late-May the frosts ease in East Lansing, opening the season for kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. In East Lansing, warm-season transplants — tomatoes, peppers, basil — wait two weeks past East Lansing's frost date. Around early-October, freezing nights resume in East Lansing and tender crops must come in. In East Lansing, low spots run 4-7°F colder than nearby slopes, nudging East Lansing's frost dates a week.

Similar climates: Haslett, MI, Lansing, MI, Okemos, MI, Bath, MI, Edgemont Park, MI.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in East Lansing?
In East Lansing, expect the last spring frost near mid-May; East Lansing's first autumn frost comes around mid-October.
What is the rainy season in East Lansing?
East Lansing sees its heaviest rain in June (around 3.8 inches), part of roughly 33 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in East Lansing?
East Lansing peaks in July, when the mean runs near 72°F.
What is the coldest month in East Lansing?
January is East Lansing's coldest month, averaging about 24°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in East Lansing?
Around mid-May, start frost-hardy crops in East Lansing; tomatoes and basil belong a fortnight later.
How many rainy days does East Lansing get?
East Lansing records around 71 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is East Lansing?
With January around 24°F, East Lansing's zone reflects that minimum — the USDA ZIP map confirms East Lansing's band.
What is the 10-day forecast for East Lansing?
East Lansing's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in East Lansing?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for East Lansing in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in East Lansing?
Current conditions for East Lansing and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the East Lansing forecast updated?
The East Lansing forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in East Lansing?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for East Lansing are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for East Lansing?
The next few days in East Lansing's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The warm-summer humid continental climate of East Lansing, Michigan carries typical Januarys near 24°F and Julys around 72°F — 48°F of seasonal travel.

Across the year, East Lansing collects about 33 inches of precipitation over roughly 71 days with measurable rain or snow.

East Lansing sits at 42.7°N; that 48°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across East Lansing.

All cities in Michigan →

Lansing, MI weather →

ZIP codes in East Lansing

  • 48823
  • 48825
  • 48824
  • 48826

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.